Stars donate to Costa Mesa charity

Working Wardrobes chosen to be a recipient by EXTRA Luxury Lounge, a celebrity retreat during shows and festivals.

March 01, 2011|By Sarah Peters, sarah.peters@latimes.com

COSTA MESA — A local charity netted big donations in honor of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, including a gown worn at the 2011 Country Music Awards and sneakers signed by a member of the Lakers.

The EXTRA Luxury Lounge, a retreat for celebrities during awards shows and festivals, selected Costa Mesa nonprofit Working Wardrobes as this year's charitable organization to be featured in the Lounge, according to a Working Wardrobes press release.

The Working Wardrobes donation booth was set up from Feb. 24-27 in the Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.

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Donations from the event will go to fund Working Wardrobes' many programs, which aid men, women and teens with career, life skills and self-esteem workshops.

"These amazing and greatly appreciated celebrity donations will help us provide life-changing career development and wardrobe services throughout the year," Jerri Rosen, founder and CEO of Working Wardrobes, said in a prepared statement. "We are so thankful to be a part of the EXTRA Luxury Lounge and the focus of its charitable component this year. Our programs would not be possible without the support of our generous donors."

Among just a few of the big names who donated items over the weekend were recent Grammy winner and country music singer Miranda Lambert, who donated a dress designed by Sherri Hill and two other gowns, Lakers player Ron Artest, who donated a signed pair of Nike sneakers, and TV star Neil Patrick Harris, who donated a suit, according to information from Allison Hata, Working Wardrobes spokeswoman.